Carlos Alberto and Jairzinho, two members of Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side in Mexico, believe England have their best chance of winning the competition since 1966.

Jairzinho, the only player to have scored in every round of the finals, feels England have a good enough team to win the competition - even if Wayne Rooney doesn't make the trip to Germany. "There is much more potential than ever for England to have a good World Cup," he said. "It is the first time for a long while we have seen the English team so balanced.

"For me Brazil are favourites, but I like England, Germany, Argentina and Italy. These teams have good players. I definitely believe Wayne Rooney is the sensation of the England team but, if he does not play, England's chances will diminish a little bit but they still have a very good team."

Carlos Alberto, who lifted the cup in 1970 having scored the last goal in the 4-1 victory over Italy in the final, believes the key to England's destiny in this year's competition lies with their belief. He shares Jairzinho's view that they will reach the last four but insists they must not be scared of taking on the best teams in the world.

"In my opinion England can maybe be the big surprise because they have a good and experienced team," he said. "Most of the players played in the last World Cup so they have experienced players.

"They will be in the last four of the World Cup with Brazil, Italy, Germany or Argentina. As a Brazilian I should say Brazil will be champions but in the World Cup you never know. Look at the last tournament: Argentina and France played three games and then went back home. But I do believe Brazil have a good team and we can be champions.

"England have good players and a good team and if they are in good shape they can give Brazil and Argentina a good game. But England must not be afraid. Our opinion in Brazil is if you have a good team, then don't be scared. That is the secret."

Carlos Alberto believes the World Cup will be a poorer tournament if Rooney fails to overcome his metatarsal problem to play any part in England's campaign and he hopes the Manchester United striker will be given the all-clear to travel.

"Rooney is a very good player and he deserves to play in the World Cup," he said. "I have seen him play several times, twice in the English team. He deserves to play in the World Cup because he is a very good player and the competition is the moment when all the best players in the world should be there. All the best players must be in Germany - especially Rooney."

The sports minister Richard Caborn is another who believes England can overcome the loss of Rooney if he fails to recover in time. "Everybody has said, and I agree, we are probably sending the strongest squad we've had since 1966. Speaking to the England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, he believes there is a very, very good chance of us winning the World Cup," he said at the British Council's Blowing the Whistle on Poverty campaign.

"Obviously injuries are always a problem, as we have seen with Wayne Rooney, and we'll have to see how that heals. We would be better with him but I would not discount us if he does not play. In the Cup final a couple of weeks ago we saw players like Steven Gerrard prove they really rise to the occasion. We will have to overcome Rooney's absence if he is not fit but this is a team that has been working together since the last World Cup."

An anti-football demonstration on July 9 could pose security problems in the German capital on the day of the World Cup final, according to a police union leader. Konrad Freiberg said the march through Berlin on the afternoon and evening of July 9, expected to attract 20,000 demonstrators, could stretch police resources.

"The police are not capable of making secure such a large event during the World Cup," he said. The demonstration was approved five years ago with organiser Manfred Wuehr saying it would draw attention to the needs of young people and campaign against the commercialisation of football.